DOJ Unveils Indictment Against Russian Intelligence for Alleged U.S. Murder Plot
DOJ accuses Russian agents of plotting to kill a U.S. dissident, revealing global assassination network details.
POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an indictment against five individuals linked to Russia’s intelligence services, accusing them of orchestrating a global assassination network targeting critics of the Kremlin, including alleged plots on American soil.
The charges, unsealed in New York, involve a former Russian intelligence colonel, his son, and operatives from Cuba and Venezuela. All five are believed to be based in Russia and have not been apprehended, according to the Justice Department.
A key part of the indictment details an alleged plan in July and August involving a Brooklyn resident who was approached to conduct surveillance on an unnamed Russian dissident. He was promised $1,000 to $1,500 for photos and videos but refused to participate in any violent act. The indictment also reveals that another $40,000 was allegedly offered for the target’s elimination.
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Other allegations include an attempt to recruit a U.S. citizen in Lithuania to carry out a killing, with the promise of $25,000 for what the Russian operative called “serious work.” The individual declined, prompting the offer to shift toward arson instead. The RIS Network is also accused of involvement in failed arson attacks in Europe, including attempts on buses in the Czech Republic and a facility in Lithuania that supports Ukraine.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg condemned the alleged activities, calling them a “gross violation of our sovereignty” and a threat to national security. He emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to preventing foreign intelligence services from operating freely within the country.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
